Clergy Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Santa Rosa

If you are a survivor of child sexual abuse by a priest, teacher, or coach you are not alone. Our attorneys & advocates are here to help you.

If you were sexually abused as a child by a priest, brother, teacher, coach, volunteer, or another Church employee in California, we want to help. The Jeff Anderson & Associates team of lawyers, legal professionals, and trauma-informed advocates has spent over 30 years helping survivors reclaim the power taken from them as children, expose perpetrators and cover-ups, and obtain justice, accountability, and compensation from Catholic dioceses and religious orders across the country.

Diocese of Santa Rosa Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

On March 13, 2023, the Diocese of Santa Rosa filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy reorganization. This expected and ill-fated decision by the diocese is a shallow attempt by the bishop to harbor perpetrators, conceal assets, and shield the truth from survivors of sexual abuse.

Historically, organizations such as Catholic dioceses and religious orders have used Chapter 11 Bankruptcy as a shield to prevent embarrassing jury trials, allowing the institution to continue “business as usual” while continuing to hide its secrets. Bishops use this legal tactic to prevent survivors of child sexual abuse from pursuing legal action, exposing predators, and holding the Diocese accountable. However, you still have legal rights. Please visit our Chapter 11 bankruptcy FAQ page for more details about this process.

The California Child Victims Act

On September 14, 2019, the California Child Victims Act was signed into law. The Act reformed the statute of limitation and opened a window for previously time-barred survivors of child sexual abuse to seek accountability and compensation in civil courts for the pain and suffering they’ve carried for decades. The California Child Victims Act window closed on December 31, 2022.

If you were sexually abused by a priest, teacher, or coach in the Diocese of Santa Rosa, you have rights. It’s time for accountability. 

Clergy Accused of Child Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Santa Rosa

The list below contains the names of clergy who were assigned within or working in the California Diocese of Santa Rosa who have been accused of sexual misconduct. While lawsuits were filed involving many of these alleged perpetrators, the vast majority of the claims against these individuals have been settled or have not been fully evaluated in a civil or criminal court. Accordingly, the allegations should be considered just allegations and should not be considered proved or substantiated in a court of law.

All individuals should be considered innocent until proven guilty. In some situations, the statute of limitations has expired preventing cases from being heard in a court of law. The information contained herein is an attempt to compile information already available to the public including information obtained from the media, www.bishopaccountability.org, the Diocese’s public statements, lists and reports that were released to the public, and other sources that have attempted to chronicle this information for public use.